Book description
Introduced by Jenni Calder. David Balfour is no sooner back in
Edinburgh and restored to his estate than he is caught up in the
aftermath of the Appin murder. Since he was present when the crime was
committed, he knows that the accused, James Stewart, is innocent.
Determined to testify on his behalf, David is waylaid yet again and
thrust upon a further series of adventures. He meets the son of Rob Roy
Macgregor, and falls in love with his daughter Catriona. The romance
between David and Catriona is passionate but beset with problems. Alan
Breck, David Balfour's mentor and collaborator in Kidnapped, becomes
involved in an attempt to unite the lovers and it is on this note of
hope that the adventure enters its final chapters. Catriona is the
immediate sequel to Kidnapped, which Stevenson had always planned,
although it took eight years to appear. The book is not as well known as
Kidnapped, yet it was one of Stevenson's own favourites. He considered
it to be his 'high water mark', saying that he would 'never do a better
book'.
